35 Whelen Loads

[JD338]

I blew the dust off my M700 Classic 35 Whelen and am going to work up some loads for the 250 gr PT's.
I think RL 15 is going to be my best bet for powder selection, giving me both good velocity and accuracy.
What are you fellas using?

JD338

 

[Elkman]

IMR-4064 with 250 Swift A- frame. Its been a safe queen for several years. I will be switching to 3031 when I run out of 4064

 

[SJB358]

RL15 is what I have used since I bought the rifle. I would like to try TAC as it is rumored to be able to break the 2600 mark with 250's. Either way, I am pretty close right now with RL15. Good luck, looking forward to your load work. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

Jim,

You're making antsy. Mine is still getting a new barrel screwed on. Things are going to change, I know. However, when I had my Classic, RL15 worked very well with the 250 grain PT. More recently, I was using A2520 with good results. I'll likely focus on these powders when I begin load development again in the near future.

 

[Guest]

Jim,
Currently I shoot the 225 AB with RL-15. I'm going to try Varget soon. I hear good things about
IMR4064 Powder. No experience here with the 250 BULLET. Good Luck.

Don

 

[RogueRiver]

REl 15 and BLC2

 

[JD338]

Thanks fellas.
I should have mentioned that I have been loading my 35 Whelen since 1988. I had great success with IMR 4064 and AA2015. I tried RL 15 with the 225 gr AB and I was really impressed!
The printed load data for RL 15 is quite a bit lower than what most folks are loading. This is why I was pulsing what everyone here is using.

JD338

 

[Antelope_Sniper]

If I was loading for it, I'd reach for my big ol keg of BL-C(2). Hodgdon lists the 250 grainers at 2500. That's alof of momentum for an .06 size case.

 

[Guest]

Can someone run a Quick Load for me on the 35 Whelen using the 225 AB and RL-15 Powder please?
Consider 22" barrel from Rem. 700 Gun.

Thank-You,
Don

 

[SJB358]

The issue with Whelen data is that is very unloaded compared to a 270 Win or similar. I have been loading 60gr of RL15 behind 225's and 59 behind 250's for awhile now. I am still on the same batch of brass and I can't see any signs of overpressure or overworking at all. It just shoots well at a decent pressure. Maybe I am wrong, but I can't see any of the traditional signs I am hurting a thing. Plus, Nosler shows some great data for both, and in order to get near their speeds a couple extra grains of powder are needed. Scotty

 

[PJGunner]

The issue with Whelen data is that is very unloaded compared to a 270 Win or similar. I have been loading 60gr of RL15 behind 225's and 59 behind 250's for awhile now. I am still on the same batch of brass and I can't see any signs of overpressure or overworking at all. It just shoots well at a decent pressure. Maybe I am wrong, but I can't see any of the traditional signs I am hurting a thing. Plus, Nosler shows some great data for both, and in order to get near their speeds a couple extra grains of powder are needed. Scotty

I'm inclined to agree. Remember that Remington makes the pump gun and I believe their semi-auto to take the .35 Whelen. Apparently loads have to be kept down a bit to accomodate those rifles. Kind of like the deal with the .280 Remington. I've done a little work with the 250 gr. Speer hot-Core and the Hornady Spire Points with H-335 I did work up to Paco Kelly's load of 53.0 gr. of H-335 with both bullets with decent velocity and good accuracy. The only other load I've done is 60.4 gr. of RL-15 and the 225 gr. Barnes TSX. That's been the best load so far BTW. Do start at a lower level because it's way over anything I've seen in the books I have on hand.
Paul B.

 

[Guest]

Beretzs,
Tell me a little about that 60 grain load of RL-15. What 225 bullet and how is the velocity?
I shoot 59 grains with the AccuBond. Just curious about the gain with one more grain of powder.
Is your barrel 22" or 24"?

How are your groups?

Thanks,
Don

 

[SJB358]

Don, I developed the 60gr load with the CCI250/RP cases/225gr TSX for elk in 2006 I believe. It went 2700+. I was between chrono's back then, and used the club's chrono just to test 5 of them. They were very accurate. Keeping about 1.5" groups at 200. I used that load to take a good bull elk and a decent black bear. Excellent bullet performance. I don't have any targets of that, but I have a few using 59gr RL15/CCI250/RP cases and 250gr Speer Hot Core. Those clock 2575 FPS out of my 24" barreled CDL and are MOA out to 300. Haven't shot them further, but I am pretty sure they will hold out pretty easily.

100 Yard

200 Yard

300 Yard

Those are all with the 250gr Speer. I will be working with the 250gr Nosler soon and hope it is as good or better than the Speer. Don't be scared of loading the 35 Whelen up a little extra with RL15, your 225gr AB load sounds very solid and probably isn't worth trying to get more out of it, but I think you could push it a touch, if you were so inclined. Scotty

 

[Guest]

Scotty,

Thank-you for sharing that. My current load is 2677 fps from 59.0 grains RL 15, using resized brass.
I'm using standard CCI 200 Primers.My gun has a 22" tube. I see no signs of pressure but wanted to achieve 2700 fps. I have considered working up to 60.0 with the same primer to see what it would give me.

I did purchase some Varget to try, as time permits. I really like the 225 AB for this gun.

Thanks again,
Don

 

[SJB358]

Don, if your load shoots well at 2677 I would not waste your time! That is a very adequate load for sure. I would try the 225gr AB, but I kinda like the 250's in the Whelen. I am running CCI250's in my Whelen. No real reason, but it is what I had and they work for me. I would think if you wanted to load a few with 59.5 and 60 you would get your 2700 and maybe you will keep accuracy. It is worth a shot if you have to have 2700. That would be a great Elk round for sure. Varget would probably be good in the Whelen also, I keep hearing about TAC and think it would be worth a try too. Seems like folks are getting great speed and accuracy from it. If I ever find any, I plan on grabbing some. Scotty

 

[JD338]

I started my load development with my 35 Whelen and the 250 gr loads.
I picked up a box of Hornady 250 gr Interlocks and loaded up with RL 15.
55.0 grs went 1.032" and 57.0 grs went .879".

I hope to be able to get back out in the May time frame, after my surgery and tweek the load. I think I am almost there.

JD338

 

[SJB358]

Keep pushing them Jim. I think you could easily get 2550 out of them and still have a very safe and reliable load. Sounds like your rifle is tightening up as you increase charges anyhow. Scotty

 

[Guest]

Scotty,
It's just fun messing around with loading. I'm going to give it a try with RL-15 then try Varget too.
If I can't get to 2700 not a problem, the current load will work fine.

Good input, thanks

Don